Bhopal, May 19 (PTI) The mortal remains of Environment
Minister Anil Madhav Dave were consigned to flames on the
banks of the river Narmada at Bandrabhan in Madhya Pradesh's
Hoshangabad district today, with full state honours.

Dave, who died in New Delhi yesterday at the age of
60, had expressed the desire to be cremated on the banks of
the Narmada, a river that was close to his heart and ran
through his home state of Madhya Pradesh.

The funeral pyre was lit by his brother and nephew amid a
tearful adieu by those present on the occasion at Bandrabhan,
where Dave used to organise international river festivals to
create awareness among people on the issue of conserving
rivers, BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal told PTI.

The mortal remains of Dave were brought early this
morning to Bandrabhan from his home, 'Nadi Ka Ghar', in the
state capital.

Chouhan and other BJP leaders lent their shoulders to the
departed leader.

A guard of honour was also given as a mark of respect
him.

The Madhya Pradesh government yesterday declared a
two-day state mourning following Dave's death.

Leaders cutting across party lines expressed profound
grief over his demise.

A pall of gloom yesterday descended on 'Nadi Ka Ghar'
with Dave's supporters flocking to the three-storey building
set up by him which was also used to run Narmada Samagra, an
NGO for conserving the river regarded as the lifeline of MP.

Born on July 6, 1956 at Barnagar in Madhya Pradesh's
Ujjain district, Dave, a bachelor, used to live in this house
whenever he was in Bhopal.

The house was his nerve centre for running the river
conservation campaign as well as to formulate strategies for
contesting elections.

Dave, in his will dated July 23, 2012, said, "If you
want to cherish my memories, plant trees and save them. This
would give me pleasure,"

He also mentioned in his will that he did not want any
statue, memorial or award instituted in his name.